dc.contributor.author | MacKeil, Janelle | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2021-08-31T18:18:31Z | |
dc.date.available | 2021-08-31T18:18:31Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2021-08-31T18:18:31Z | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10222/80786 | |
dc.description.abstract | Gryllus pennsylvanicus (Gryllidae), are post-dispersal seed consumers, common in wild blueberry fields. Laboratory and field studies were conducted during the summer-fall season of 2019 in wild blueberry fields. Field experiments revealed G. pennsylvanicus was active for 14 weeks, peaking in mid-August, coinciding with the seed rain of economically destructive weeds. The spatial population dynamics of G. pennsylvanicus did not change with increasing distance from field edge. Laboratory no-choice feeding studies revealed G. pennsylvanicus consumes a variety of seeds (0.057 – 1.9 mg). An average of 449 hair fescue seeds, per cricket, over 120 hours were consumed with an estimated final constant feeding rate of 65.5 seeds per day. These findings suggest that post-dispersal weed seed consumption by G. pennsylvanicus in wild blueberry fields, when used in conjunction with an integrated weed management plan, may influence weed emergence providing a valuable and sustainable ecological service. | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.subject | Biological Control | en_US |
dc.subject | Field Cricket | en_US |
dc.subject | Wild Blueberry | en_US |
dc.title | Population dynamics and seed feeding tendencies of field crickets (Gryllidae) in wild blueberry fields | en_US |
dc.date.defence | 2021-07-07 | |
dc.contributor.department | Faculty of Agriculture | en_US |
dc.contributor.degree | Master of Science | en_US |
dc.contributor.external-examiner | Dr. Phillip Fanning | en_US |
dc.contributor.graduate-coordinator | Dr. Gordon Price | en_US |
dc.contributor.thesis-reader | Dr. Vilis Nams | en_US |
dc.contributor.thesis-reader | Dr. Nathan Boyd | en_US |
dc.contributor.thesis-supervisor | Dr. Chris Cutler | en_US |
dc.contributor.thesis-supervisor | Dr. Scott White | en_US |
dc.contributor.ethics-approval | Not Applicable | en_US |
dc.contributor.manuscripts | Not Applicable | en_US |
dc.contributor.copyright-release | Not Applicable | en_US |